Programs & Events Calendar

Virtual Lecture: The History of the Kancamagus Highway
Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 7 p.m.
Considered to be one of the most scenic roads in America, the Kancamagus Highway draws thousands of tourists to New Hampshire annually. The complete highway, running between Conway and Lincoln, opened officially in 1967, but it had taken more than 120 years to develop and build. Located in the Swift River Valley for much of its length, the Kancamagus is the gateway to the southern White Mountains. It is renowned for its fall foliage views and for such celebrated natural sites as Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, and Rocky Gorge. Join historian and author Glenn Knoblock as he details the development of this Granite State treasure and gives a glimpse into what the “Kanc” has to offer visitors year-round. Admission is free for Society members; $5 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required, either through Humanitix or by calling 603-228-6688.

New Hampshire Furniture Masters Exhibition
Friday, October 18, and Saturday, October 19, 2024, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Since the founding of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters in 1993, the organization has promoted a greater appreciation for the state’s long tradition of fine furniture making, one that continues to this day. The New Hampshire Historical Society was a founding partner of the Furniture Masters and is pleased to host a two-day exhibition celebrating the group’s 30 years of craftsmanship. Admission to the exhibition is free for Society members; $7 for nonmembers. For more information, including how to purchase tickets to the Furniture Masters reception and silent auction on Saturday evening, visit furnituremasters.org.

Virtual Workshop: Who’s Taking Care of Your Local History?
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
New Hampshire’s towns have always played a defining role in shaping the state’s character, and it is in our local communities that New Hampshire’s history has largely been written and lived. Yet these stories of our towns and their people are often in danger of being lost. Join Maggie Stier of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance to learn about how different groups at the local level—like local historical societies and heritage and historic district commissions—work to save and preserve that history. This workshop is for anyone who wants to find out more about where they live—genealogists, local historical society members, homeowners, realtors, and newcomers to the state. The program is free, but advance registration is required, either through Humanitix or by calling 603-228-6688.

Lecture and Book Signing: Three Ways of Thinking about the UFO: Betty Hill, Barney Hill, and UFO Culture in America
Saturday, October 26, 2024, 4 p.m.
The abduction tale of Betty and Barney Hill is one of the most significant elements of UFO culture in the United States. After an encounter with a strange light that followed their car down Route 3 through Franconia Notch in September 1961, the Hills began to experience nightmares and anxiety—symptoms that were relieved through hypnosis. Although they were cautioned that any “memories” that emerged were likely manifestations of emotional truth alone, the Hills were convinced they had been taken aboard an alien craft by extraterrestrials, examined, and then released. For years afterward, they struggled to understand what had happened to them, and their quest for answers illustrates in microcosm broad trends in mid-century American culture: a decay of trust in authority, the emerging prominence of the New Age movement, and the political turbulence of the 1960s and 1970s. The modern UFO movement in the United States was born out of these changes, and this presentation by Matthew Bowman, professor of religion and history at Claremont Graduate University, will demonstrate that the Hills’ experience, whether or not real, was central to this movement. Bowman’s most recent book, which delves into this topic, will be available for sale at the event and through the Society’s online store at nhhistory.org. This program, which is free, is being offered both in-person and virtually. No registration is required to attend in person; advance registration is required for virtual attendees, either through Humanitix or by calling 603-228-6688.

Lecture: The N.H. Primary: A Light-hearted Look at the Long Shots
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 2 p.m.
What do Billy Joe Clegg, Vermin Supreme, “The Hemp Lady,” Joe Biden, and Donald Trump have in common? They and hundreds of others have been candidates in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary. One candidate proposed unclogging traffic jams by hoisting disabled cars off the road with helicopters. Another proclaimed: “Don’t vote for me.” Yet another campaigned from prison. Join retired news reporter David Tirrell-Wysocki for a light-hearted, nonpartisan look at New Hampshire’s presidential contest. Admission is free for Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Lecture: Traveling with Count Rumford
Saturday, November 9, 2024, 2 p.m.
A spy, a lover, a scientist, an inventor, and a diplomat, Benjamin Thompson, the American-born Count Rumford of Concord, lived a complex and controversial life. Rumford’s time in New Hampshire was brief but meaningful, as when he was ennobled by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1792, he chose to be named Rumford after one of the early names for Concord. Join Glen Rodgers, emeritus professor at Allegheny College and author of Traveling with the Atom: A Scientific Guide to Europe and Beyond, as he recounts Rumford’s scientific, economic, diplomatic, and military accomplishments while following in his footsteps across the United States and Europe. Admission is free for Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Virtual Workshop: Creating Dynamic Cemetery Tours
Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 7 to 9 p.m.
Few places evoke local history the way cemeteries do, and more and more people have taken to exploring them, hoping to discover the stories they contain. Learn about the many ways that local organizations can put together compelling, crowd-pleasing cemetery tours. Some tours will be spooky, some theatrical, some strictly historical, and some high-tech—find the type of tour that is right for your group and discover how to pull it together for an outstanding community event. The cost of this workshop is $15 for Society members; $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required, either through Humanitix or by calling 603-228-6688.

Lecture: New England’s Colonial Meetinghouses and Their Impact on American Society
Saturday, November 16, 2024, 2 p.m.
New England’s colonial meetinghouses embody an important yet little-known chapter in American history. Built mostly with tax money, they served as both places of worship and places for town meetings, and were the centers of life in colonial New England communities. Using photographs of the few surviving “mint-condition” meetinghouses as illustrations, Paul Wainwright tells the story of the society that built and used them, and the lasting impact they have had on American culture. Admission is free for Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Lecture: New England’s General: Franklin Pierce and the War with Mexico
Saturday, November 23, 2024, 2 p.m.
Franklin Pierce was one of the most prominent men to volunteer for military service during the Mexican War of 1846–48. But what compelled this middle-aged northern politician to leave his home and family for the field of battle 2,000 miles away? And how well did this future commander-in-chief perform at the head of his regiment? Join doctoral candidate James Irving from the University of New Hampshire as he considers these questions and, in the process, uncovers the wide and tangled network of individuals—from President James K. Polk to local friends, foreign foes, and even horses, mules, and mosquitos—who helped determine the course of Pierce’s wartime experience. Admission is free for Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Family Program: Giant Steps Across New Hampshire
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 2 to 4 p.m.
Have you ever wanted to travel from Peterborough to Pittsburg, from Portsmouth to Plymouth, all in one afternoon? Drop in to the Society for games and activities using the Giant Map of New Hampshire. Kids will play with this room-sized map to explore the regions, resources, and history of the state we all love. No shoes allowed on the map, so participants should be sure to wear socks! This program is geared for kids ages 7 to 11, but all ages are welcome. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. Admission is free thanks to a generous contribution from Concord Pediatric Dentistry.

Fort William and Mary Reenactment
Saturday, December 14, 2024, and Sunday, December 15, 2024
Location: Portsmouth and Newcastle
Bring the whole family to Portsmouth and Newcastle to watch and learn about the beginning of the American Revolution, when a dramatic conflict between the British and the Americans took place here in New Hampshire four months before Concord and Lexington. On December 14, reenactors will re-create Paul Revere’s ride from Boston to Portsmouth, the rallying of patriots in that town, and the resulting attack on the British fort in New Castle. Stawbery Banke Museum will be hosting interpretive stations and programs. The New Hampshire Historical Society is one of several sponsors for this event, organized by the First New Hampshire Regiment. For more information, visit the Fort William & Mary event website.